Prevent Heat Rash

Heat rash, which is also called miliaria or prickly heat, is a type of skin irritation that can affect anyone from infants to the elderly. Heat rash occurs when blocked sweat ducts trap perspiration under your skin. You may experience different kinds of symptoms including small fluid-filled bumps to severe itching. Heat rash is easily preventable and usually clears on its own if you have it.

Steps

Protecting Yourself from Heat Rash

1. Wear loose and smooth clothing. Tight-fitting clothing can irritate your skin. Wear loose, smooth, and light clothing to help prevent skin irritation and heat rash.
   • Smooth textured clothing such as cotton or merino wool can keep your skin from getting irritated and can prevent excess sweating that may cause heat rash.
2. Avoid overdressing. No matter what time of year, try and not wear too much clothing. Wearing clothing appropriate to the weather can keep you from sweating and developing heat rash.
   • In the summer, wear soft and lightweight clothing. Cotton is a good option that will allow your skin to breathe.
   • Layer your clothing in winter. If you get too hot or start to sweat, this can make it easier to remove items of clothing without getting too cold. Merino wool is a good option for winter that can keep you warm and dry.
3. Dry skin thoroughly after bathing. Heat and moisture can irritate skin and promote condition that lead to heat rash. Dry your skin thoroughly with a towel or air-dry after bathing, showering, or swimming to help prevent heat rash.
   • Consider allowing your skin to air dry after bathing, which is less irritating than toweling off.
   • Make sure to avoid using hot water and use a non-drying soap to help prevent heat rash and irritation. The water can still be warm — it just shouldn't be piping hot.
4. Keep skin hydrated. Maintaining your skin’s natural hydration can help prevent dryness and heat rash. You can help keep skin hydrated by different means including moisturizing, avoiding temperature extremes, and using a humidifier.
   • Apply moisturizer to your skin once a day. The best time to apply is after a shower or bath while your skin is barely damp.
   • Use unscented and uncolored moisturizers that do not contain petroleum mineral oil, which can block pores.
5. Stay out of the heat and sunshine. Hot weather and sun exposure can cause heat rash. Seeking out shade, staying inside in air-conditioning, or avoiding the sun may help prevent miliaria.
   • If you notice that you’re sweating profusely in the heat, make sure to get to a cooler location to minimize your risk of getting heat rash.
6. Circulate air with a fan. Increased air circulation can help to keep skin cool and dry and keep your general environment from getting too hot. Use a fan or even an air conditioner to keep air cool and circulating consistently.
7. Create a comfortable and cool sleeping environment. Sleep in a bedroom that is comfortable, cool, and well ventilated. By controlling factors such as the temperature and darkness, having comfortable bedding, and keeping air circulating, you may help prevent heat rash.
   • Set temperature in bedroom to between 60-75 degrees for optimal sleeping conditions.
   • Use a fan to keep air circulating or open a window.
8. Visit your doctor. See your doctor if you're so uncomfortable that heat rash disrupts your sleep or ability to function daily, your skin is painful, self-care and home remedies haven’t worked, or you suspect your skin is infected. This can help prevent further issues and may alleviate your pain.
   • If you have any pus draining from your heat rash, see your doctor.
   • If you have a fever or chills, see your doctor.

Treating a Case of Heat Rash

1. Identify the symptoms of a heat rash. Heat rash often occurs in skin folds and where clothing causes friction. Identifying the symptoms of heat rash can help you effectively treat and prevent it.
   • You may have clear, fluid filled blisters that affect only the top layer of your skin.
   • You may have fluid sacs on your skin that contain pus.
   • The blisters may penetrate deeply into your skin.
   • You may have intense itching and your skin may be swollen.
2. Draw a cool bath to reduce the itching and redness. A cool bath can soothe heat rash and help decrease inflammation. You may want to consider adding a colloidal oatmeal preparation to help further soothe your skin.
   • Sprinkle water with baking soda, uncooked oatmeal or colloidal oatmeal, all of which can help calm your skin.
3. Apply calamine lotion or anti-itch cream. Applying a calamine lotion or non-prescription anti-itch cream can relieve heat rash, itching, and inflammation. You can purchase anti-itch cream at grocery and drug stores both in-store and online.
   • A nonprescription anti-itch, or hydrocortisone, cream, can help relieve itching. Make sure to purchase a cream with at least 1% hydrocortisone.
   • Apply the cream once a day after your bath to the affected area.
4. Rub an anhydrous lanolin cream on your skin. If you have a heat rash, rub anhydrous lanolin cream into your skin. This may help prevent your skin ducts from blocking and may keep new lesions from forming.
   • Rub in the cream after bathing.
   • You can get anhydrous lanolin at most pharmacies.
5. Apply a cold compress to relieve itching and inflammation. The itching and inflammation from heat rash can come from histamine in your blood. Cold packs or compresses can help relieve itching and inflammation associated with heat rash by constricting blood flow and cooling the skin.
   • You can place a cold compress on your rashes intermittently for 10 to 15 minutes, once every two hours or as needed.
6. Avoid scratching. Try not scratching as much as possible. Scratching can irritate the rash, or cause other problems, including a skin infection.

Sources and Citations

See also

• Be Safe During a Heat Emergency
• Treat a Hand Burn
• Recognize Symptoms of Heat Stress
• Survive a Heat Wave
• Survive a Fall Through Ice
• Rescue Someone Who Has Fallen Through Ice
• Drop Your Core Temperature
• Treat Frostbite
• Prevent Hypothermia
• Treat Sunstroke

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